Spinal Cord InjuriesPhase 4NCT06706284
Glycemic and Weight Loss Effects of GLP-1R Agonist Therapy in Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury and Type 2 Diabetes
A Phase 4 study testing Semaglutide Injectable Product in people with Spinal Cord Injuries and Type 2 Diabetes, run by Marzieh Salehi at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
It is not known whether a new diabetes drug, semaglutide, is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), a population at higher risk for this condition. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Type 2 Diabetes
- What is being tested?
- Semaglutide Injectable Product
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Apr 2025to 1 Mar 2029
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male and female subjects aged 18-70 years (inclusive) at screening
- More than one year after spinal cord injury
- Levels if injury C2-L2 with Asia Impairment Scale A, B, C or D.
- Provision of signed and dated written informed consent prior to any study specific procedures
- Diagnosed with T2DM with glucose control managed with diet and metformin monotherapy where no significant dose changes (increase or decrease ≥ 50%) have occurred in the three months prior to screening
- HbA1c 6.0-9.0% at screening
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- BMI > 22 kg/m2 at screening
- Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and randomization, and must not be lactating
- Females of childbearing potential who are sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner must use at least one highly effective method of contraception from screening and must agree to continue using such precautions through to the end of the study. It is strongly recommended for the male partner of a female subject to also use male condom plus spermicide throughout this period. Cessation of contraception after this point should be discussed with a responsible physician. Periodic abstinence, the rhythm method, and the withdrawal method are not acceptable methods of contraception.
Who cannot join
- History of, or any existing condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with evaluation of the investigational product, put the subject at risk, influence the subject's ability to participate or affect the interpretation of the results of the study and/or any subject unable or unwilling to follow study procedures.
- Any subject who has received another investigational product as part of a clinical study within the last 30 days or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer) at the time of screening
- Taking mirabegron or other glucose altering medications
- Taking steroids within the past 1 year
- Significant anemia (hemoglobin<11g/dL)
- History of gastric outlet obstruction or chronic diarrhea
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- History of a chronic neurological illness other than SCI (i.e.; MS, etc)
- Any subject who has received any of the following medications within the specified time-frame prior to the start of the study
- Herbal preparations or drugs licensed for control of body weight or appetite (eg, orlistat, bupropion-naltrexone, phentermine-topiramate, phentermine, lorcaserin) within a year prior to the start of the study
- Pioglitazone, SGLT2 or DPPIV inhibitors, GLP-1RA within the last 60 days at the time of screening
- Severe allergy/hypersensitivity to any of the proposed study treatments, excipients, acetaminophen
- Symptoms of acutely decompensated blood glucose control (eg, thirst, polyuria, weight loss), a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis, or if the subject has been treated with daily SC insulin within 90 days prior to screening.
- Significant inflammatory bowel disease or other severe disease or surgery affecting the upper GI tract (including weight-reducing surgery and procedures) which could affect the interpretation of safety and tolerability data. Prior history of bariatric surgery is not considered exclusion given the ample evidence of safety of use of GLP-1R therapy in this population.
- Acute or chronic pancreatitis
- Significant hepatic disease (except for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis [MASH] or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease [MASLD]) without portal hypertension or cirrhosis) and/or subjects with any of the following results at screening:
- Aspartate transaminase (AST) ≥ 3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) Alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥ 3 × ULN Total bilirubin ≥ 2 × ULN
- Impaired renal function defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 45 mL/minute/1.73m2 at screening (GFR estimated according to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) using MDRD Study Equation IDMS-traceable [SI units])
- Unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke within 3 months prior to screening, or subjects who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention or a coronary artery bypass graft within the past 6 months or who are due to undergo these procedures at the time of screening
- Severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class III or IV)
- Basal calcitonin level > 50 ng/L at screening or history/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia
- History of neoplastic disease within 5 years prior to screening, except for adequately treated basal cell, squamous cell skin cancer, or in situ cervical cancer
- History of HIV infection or other immune compromised disease; and history of organ transplantation
- Substance dependence or history of alcohol abuse and/or excess alcohol intake
- Patients on ketogenic diet
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
University Health - Texas Diabetic Institute
San Antonio, Texas, 78207
Hector Gonzalez Cantu, PhD, 2105676707, gonzalezcant@uthscsa.edu
Mooney Mark-Johnson, markjohnson@uthscsa.edu
- Recruiting
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, 78229
Hector Gonzalez Cantu, PhD, 2105676707, gonzalezcant@uthscsa.edu
Mooney Mark-Johnson, markjohnson@uthscsa.edu
About this study
It is not known whether a new diabetes drug, semaglutide, is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), a population at higher risk for this condition. Therefore, this study looks at the effect of semaglutide on glucose levels in the body and other information about type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Read the detailed description
This study consists of 7-9 in-person visits and 9-10 phone visits, and participants will be randomized to either semaglutide or placebo for 24 weeks. The participants first visit, will include review of medical history and performance of standard tests to check the participant's health and eligibility for the study. Before starting any medication, participants will have 2 more visits:
- a mixed meal tolerance test, to examine their body's response to nutrient ingestion and
- a glucose clamp study to examine insulin sensitivity. These tests will be scheduled on two separate days. Following the 3 baseline visits, participants will be randomized to either the intervention (once-weekly injection of semaglutide, also known as Ozempic, for 24 weeks) or placebo. During the 24-week intervention participants will receive 9-10 phone calls to discuss their progress and experiences with the interventions and will also be asked to return for a short research visit including interim medical history with or without blood sample collection twice. At the end of 24 weeks, the treatments will be discontinued, and participants will repeat the meal and glucose studies scheduled over two separate days. During participation, fat/lean mass will be measured using DEXA and liver fat mass may be measured using fibroscan. In addition, participants may be asked for a stool sample.
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Type 2 Diabetes
- Being tested
- Semaglutide Injectable Product, Placebo
- Keywords
- Glucose regulation, Semaglutide, Ozempic, Glucagon- Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1)
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Semaglutide Injectable ProductDrug
Also called Ozempic
A GLP-1 inhibitor used to control T2DM
PlaceboOther
Also called Saline solution
Saline solution will be administered with the same frequency as semaglutide and participants will be instructed how to use the saline in the same manner as the active drug group.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SCI and T2DM Treatment Group | Experimental | Participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will be assigned to semaglutide weekly for 24 weeks. Semaglutide administration: once-weekly self-administration of SGT, titrated to a dose of 2 mg/week as per FDA approved guidelines. All subjects will be instructed how to inject and titrate up the dose. Receives: Drug: Semaglutide Injectable Product |
| SCI and T2DM Placebo Group | Placebo comparator | Participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will be assigned to the placebo group and inject normal saline weekly for 24 weeks. All subjects in the placebo group will be instructed how to inject and titrate up the dose to mimic the semaglutide administration to a maximum dose of 2 mg in 12 weeks and then continue for remainder of study. Receives: Other: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Glucose tolerance
The change in the incremental AUC Glucose3h response to meal ingestion
Measured: Baseline to 24 weeks
Insulin action
Liver, adipose tissue and muscle insulin sensitivity determined using a two-step euglycemic clamp.
Measured: Baseline to 24 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Nov 2024
- Study start11 Apr 2025
- Primary completion1 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Mar 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Spinal Cord InjuriesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Controlled 2 arm assignment study. The investigators will stochastically match the patient characteristics between the two arms using for a 2:1 design in terms of level of gender (male, female), level of injury (tetraplegia, paraplegia), dichotomized baseline HbA1c (above or below 7.5%), dichotomized age (above or below a median age for this population) and dichotomized BMI (above or below a median BMI for this population)
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Marzieh Salehi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Marzieh Salehi, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Investigators
- Marzieh Salehi, MD, Principal investigator, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06706284
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00000591
- Other IDs
- R01DK140144-02
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 5 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The shared data will be de-identified according to HIPAA and shared under a repository standard Data Use Agreement (DUA).(e.g., all data will be thoroughly de-identified and will not be traceable to a specific study participant). Plans for archiving and long-term preservation of the data will be implemented, as appropriate.ccess to shared data will be controlled according to the repository policy which requires a request and merit review and will be available according to repository processes. The shared data will be de-identified according to HIPAA and shared under a repository standard Data Use Agreement (DUA).
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Glycemic and Weight Loss Effects of GLP-1R Agonist Therapy in Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury and Type 2 Diabetes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06706284
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00000591
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Type 2 Diabetes
- Keywords
- Glucose regulation, Semaglutide, Ozempic, Glucagon- Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1)
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Marzieh SalehiUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Study start
- 11 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
It is not known whether a new diabetes drug, semaglutide, is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), a population at higher risk for this condition. Therefore, this study looks at the effect of semaglutide on glucose levels in the body and other information about type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Detailed description
This study consists of 7-9 in-person visits and 9-10 phone visits, and participants will be randomized to either semaglutide or placebo for 24 weeks. The participants first visit, will include review of medical history and performance of standard tests to check the participant's health and eligibility for the study. Before starting any medication, participants will have 2 more visits:
- a mixed meal tolerance test, to examine their body's response to nutrient ingestion and
- a glucose clamp study to examine insulin sensitivity. These tests will be scheduled on two separate days. Following the 3 baseline visits, participants will be randomized to either the intervention (once-weekly injection of semaglutide, also known as Ozempic, for 24 weeks) or placebo. During the 24-week intervention participants will receive 9-10 phone calls to discuss their progress and experiences with the interventions and will also be asked to return for a short research visit including interim medical history with or without blood sample collection twice. At the end of 24 weeks, the treatments will be discontinued, and participants will repeat the meal and glucose studies scheduled over two separate days. During participation, fat/lean mass will be measured using DEXA and liver fat mass may be measured using fibroscan. In addition, participants may be asked for a stool sample.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Controlled 2 arm assignment study. The investigators will stochastically match the patient characteristics between the two arms using for a 2:1 design in terms of level of gender (male, female), level of injury (tetraplegia, paraplegia), dichotomized baseline HbA1c (above or below 7.5%), dichotomized age (above or below a median age for this population) and dichotomized BMI (above or below a median BMI for this population)
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SCI and T2DM Treatment Group | Experimental | Drug: Semaglutide Injectable ProductParticipants with spinal cord injury (SCI) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will be assigned to semaglutide weekly for 24 weeks. Semaglutide administration: once-weekly self-administration of SGT, titrated to a dose of 2 mg/week as per FDA approved guidelines. All subjects will be instructed how to inject and titrate up the dose. |
| SCI and T2DM Placebo Group | Placebo comparator | Other: PlaceboParticipants with spinal cord injury (SCI) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will be assigned to the placebo group and inject normal saline weekly for 24 weeks. All subjects in the placebo group will be instructed how to inject and titrate up the dose to mimic the semaglutide administration to a maximum dose of 2 mg in 12 weeks and then continue for remainder of study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Male and female subjects aged 18-70 years (inclusive) at screening
- More than one year after spinal cord injury
- Levels if injury C2-L2 with Asia Impairment Scale A, B, C or D.
- Provision of signed and dated written informed consent prior to any study specific procedures
- Diagnosed with T2DM with glucose control managed with diet and metformin monotherapy where no significant dose changes (increase or decrease ≥ 50%) have occurred in the three months prior to screening
Key exclusion criteria (24 listed)
- History of, or any existing condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with evaluation of the investigational product, put the subject at risk, influence the subject's ability to participate or affect the interpretation of the results of the study and/or any subject unable or unwilling to follow study procedures.
- Any subject who has received another investigational product as part of a clinical study within the last 30 days or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer) at the time of screening
- Taking mirabegron or other glucose altering medications
- Taking steroids within the past 1 year
- Significant anemia (hemoglobin<11g/dL)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide Injectable ProductAlso: OzempicA GLP-1 inhibitor used to control T2DM | Drug | SCI and T2DM Treatment Group |
| PlaceboAlso: Saline solutionSaline solution will be administered with the same frequency as semaglutide and participants will be instructed how to use the saline in the same manner as the active drug group. | Other | SCI and T2DM Placebo Group |
Primary outcome
Glucose tolerance
Time frame: Baseline to 24 weeks
The change in the incremental AUC Glucose3h response to meal ingestion
Insulin action
Time frame: Baseline to 24 weeks
Liver, adipose tissue and muscle insulin sensitivity determined using a two-step euglycemic clamp.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The shared data will be de-identified according to HIPAA and shared under a repository standard Data Use Agreement (DUA).(e.g., all data will be thoroughly de-identified and will not be traceable to a specific study participant). Plans for archiving and long-term preservation of the data will be implemented, as appropriate.ccess to shared data will be controlled according to the repository policy which requires a request and merit review and will be available according to repository processes. The shared data will be de-identified according to HIPAA and shared under a repository standard Data Use Agreement (DUA).
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Marzieh Salehi, MD principal investigator
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Semaglutide Injectable Product in people with Spinal Cord Injuries and Type 2 Diabetes, run by Marzieh Salehi at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 24 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Marzieh Salehi, MD (210-567-6691, salehi@uthscsa.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Glucose tolerance (time frame: Baseline to 24 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Oct 2026.